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Objective This study aimed to investigate the status of DNA methylation of 6 genes, LMX1A, NKX6-1, PAX1, PTPRR, SOX1, and ZNF582, previously found from squamous cell carcinomas in adenocarcinomas (ACs) of the uterine cervix.

Methods We assessed the methylation status of these genes in 40 ACs, cervical scrapings from 23 ACs, and 67 normal control cervices by real-time quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. The results were validated by bisulfite pyrosequencing.

Results The methylation levels of all the 6 genes in the ACs were significantly higher than those in normal cervical tissues, especially for PAX1, PTPRR, SOX1, and ZNF582. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of high methylation levels in PAX1, PTPRR, SOX1, and ZNF582 for the risk of developing an AC were 15.7 (95% CI, 7.0–40.6), 16.9 (95% CI, 7.6–43.0), 32.1 (95% CI, 12.1–124.3), and 25.4 (95% CI, 10.4–78.3), respectively (all P < 0.001). The methylation indices of PAX1, PTPRR, SOX1, and ZNF582 recovered from scrapings of ACs were significantly higher than in normal controls. The odds ratios of these indices for the risk of developing an AC in PAX1, PTPRR, SOX1, and ZNF582 were 6.2 (95% CI, 2.6–15.4), 12.1(95% CI, 3.8–46.4), 6.2 (95% CI, 2.6–15.8), and 20.6 (95% CI, 6.9–77.5), respectively (all P < 0.001).

This work was supported in part by the following grants: TSGH-C96-2-S01-4 from the Tri-Service General Hospital, NSC95-2622-B-016-001 and NSC95-2314-B-016-058-MY2 from the National Science Council, Republic of China, and the Teh-Tzer Study Group for Human Medical Research Foundation.

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